Father’s Day in Portugal

Father’s Day in Portugal is observed on the 19th of March. This day was chosen because it is also St. Joseph’s Day – the Patron Saint of Fathers.

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Origin of Father’s Day

Generally, there are two stories about the origin of Father’s Day. One of them says that the creator of this day is American Sonora Luise. Daughter of a military man who decided to create Father’s Day and was consequently motivated by the admiration she felt for her father, William Jackson Smart.

The celebration then became known in the United States and, in 1966, American President Lyndon Johnson made it an official celebration for every 9th of June.

However, a son’s homage to his father in Babylon may also have given rise to Father’s Day. 4000 years ago, a young boy named Elmesu wrote a message on a clay tablet wishing his father health, happiness and many years of life.

O dia do pai (father’s day) = u ˈdi.ɐ du ˈpaj

Dia de São José (Saint Joseph’s Day) =ˈdi.ɐ dɨ ˈsɐ̃w ʒu.ˈzɛ

Santo Padroeiro dos pais (patron saint of fathers) = ˈsɐ̃.tu pɐ.dɾu.ˈɐj.ɾu duʃ ˈpajʃ

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Phrases for Father’s Day

“Os verdadeiros heróis não usam capas! Obrigado por ser o meu verdadeiro herói! Feliz dia do pai!” (Real heroes don’t wear capes! Thank you for being my true hero! Happy Father’s Day!) = uʒ vɨɾ.dɐ.ˈdɐj.ɾuz i.ˈɾɔjʒ ˈnɐ̃w ˈu.zɐ̃w ˈka.pɐʃ! o.bɾi.ˈga.du puɾ ˈseɾ u ˈmew vɨɾ.dɐ.ˈdɐj.ɾu i.ˈɾɔj! fɨ.ˈɫiʒ ˈdi.ɐ du ˈpaj!

“Pai, obrigada por seres como és. Adoro-te não só por aquilo que és, mas também por me ensinares a ser uma pessoa melhor.” (Dad, thank you for being the way you are. I love you not only for who you are, but also for teaching me how to be a better person.) = ˈpaj, o.bɾi.ˈga.dɐ puɾ ˈse.ɾɨʃ ˈko.mu ˈɛʃ. ɐ.ˈdo.ɾu-tɨ ˈnɐ̃w ˈsɔ puɾ ɐ.ˈki.ɫu kɨ ˈɛʃ, mɐʃ tɐ̃.ˈbɐ̃j puɾ mɨ ẽ.si.ˈna.ɾɨz ɐ ˈseɾ ˈu.mɐ pɨ.ˈso.ɐ mɨ.ˈʎoɾ

“Pai, és o melhor pai do mundo. É um orgulho ser tua filha e poder ter-te como exemplo a seguir na vida. Feliz Dia do Pai!” (Dad, you are the best dad in the world. It makes me proud to be your daughter and to be able to have you as a role model in life. Happy Father’s Day!) = ˈpaj, ˈɛz u mɨ.ˈʎoɾ ˈpaj du ˈmũ.du. ˈɛ ˈũ oɾ.ˈgu.ʎu ˈseɾ ˈtu.ɐ ˈfi.ʎɐ i pu.ˈdeɾ ˈteɾ-tɨ ˈko.mu .ˈʃẽ.pɫu ɐ sɨ.ˈgiɾ nɐ ˈvi.dɐ. fɨ.ˈɫiʒ ˈdi.ɐ du ˈpaj!

“Pai, obrigado por seres o melhor mentor e amigo. Feliz dia do pai!” (Dad, thank you for being the best mentor and friend. Happy Father’s Day!) = ˈpaj, o.bɾi.ˈga.du puɾ ˈse.ɾɨz u mɨ.ˈʎoɾ mẽ.ˈtoɾ i ɐ.ˈmi.gu. fɨ.ˈɫiʒ ˈdi.ɐ du ˈpaj!

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Poema para o Dia do Pai – by Florbela Espanca

Florbela Espanca was a Portuguese poet known for her passionate and feminist poetry. Fernando Pessoa himself would say she was his “twin soul”.

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Other family days of note in Portugal:

• Mother’s Day in Portugal is always on the first Sunday of May.
• International Family Day in Portugal is on the 15th of May.
• Siblings Day in Portugal is on the 31st of May.
• Grandparents Day is celebrated on the 26th of July.

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Learning European Portuguese?

If you are learning European Portuguese, please check out my free resources and start learning today. Also, check out my Listening exercise about Father’s Day in Portugal here.